The Red Sox are picking fourth overall in the upcoming MLB draft, after an abysmal 2020, where they went 24-36, last in the AL East.
The Red Sox are picking this high for the first time in a while, but it also looks to be the last time they’ll be picking this high for a while with the team Chaim Bloom has built, and the depth it has to have sustained success.
Most fans are hoping Vanderbilt pitchers Kumar Rocker or Jack Leiter fall to the Red Sox. We will take a look at those guys eventually, but today, for our first prospect we’re going to take a look at, is arguably the most underrated prospect of the 2021 MLB Draft – that is Louisville catcher Henry Davis.
The 6-foot-2 catcher tallies at 210 pounds, and the feature that probably stands out most to people, is his electrifying arm.
“When I was younger, I didn’t really have a great arm,” Davis said in November of 2020 during an interview with Joe Doyle of Prospects Live. “I just wanted to make that a part of my game. You grow up watching Yadier Molina and all these guys throw out runner after runner, so I did a lot of long toss – and I kind of became a little bit obsessive of like the run and gun, and seeing how far I can throw and how hard I can throw. I just always measured it to see if I can get a little bit better, and over the years it definitely paid off.”
The sophomore threw out 34 percent of batters in his first two seasons. This season is his third season with Louisville, but used another year of eligibility after his season was cut short due to the pandemic in 2020, which makes him still considered a sophomore.
Davis’ bat can produce at a high level, as the catcher is hitting .372 this season, with 12 homers, a 1.139 OPS, and 44 RBI’s through 45 games played. Davis has quite a long stride, and it’s not the prettiest swing. But he has the ability to work a count and draw a high amount of walks, with 31 this season. He’s getting on base nearly half the time, with a .493 on-base percentage.
The 21-year old has the ability to hit the ball hard, and hit at a high average while being fundamentally sound behind the plate. Many have criticized his receiving of pitches, but that has improved in 2021, as well as his strong blocking ability. While he’s not the most athletic, he has the ability to snag a few bases – he’s stolen 10 bases this year. He seems to have the athleticism to suit a third base or corner outfield role if a team would potentially want to use him there.
The sophomore might not have the prettiest swing, as the batting glove-less long swing with a long stride might need a few adjustments through the minors. But he has the ability to produce consistent hard contact, even with his funky swing. Scouts predict Davis could to produce 20 homers a year, with a good average while walking at a high rate at the big league level.
Some mock drafts have Davis going as high as even first overall, others have him falling down to the later parts of the top 10. He could very well fall to the Red Sox at number four.
Here is a short video of Davis both behind the plate and in the batters box.